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Celebrating the 2017-18 Opening Day of School

The excitement of a starting another school year was palpable at GPS's opening ceremony.
With excitement, cheers and dancing, more than 600 students plus faculty and staff kicked off the 2017-18 school year at Girls Preparatory School on Tuesday morning, Aug. 15.

True to tradition, the Grand Old Seniors filled the front rows of Frierson Theatre and cheered on the faculty and staff members’ entrance. Finally, the newly minted Sixth Grade Babies, class of 2024, paraded in to much fanfare and applause.

Board Chair Holly Harwell ’84 welcomed students in place of Head of School Dr. Autumn Graves, who is on maternity leave. After new Head of Middle School Lynne Macziewski opened with a prayer, Head of Upper School Jenise Gordon introduced new faculty and staff members and then awarded scholarships to senior Margaret Lim and junior Olivia Combs. Margaret is the recipient of the Grace McCallie Scholarship, awarded to the rising senior who has maintained the highest GPA during her Upper School years. Olivia is the recipient of the school’s Duffy-Jarnagin Scholarship, awarded annually to a rising junior who is “highly respected by her class” and has qualities of integrity and loyalty.

Embracing Sisterhood

Senior Raegan Lamb ’18, chairwoman of Senior Class Leadership Council, took the stage with other members of the council to introduce the theme of the year—SISTERHOOD.

“We wanted a theme that speaks not only to the class of 2018, but how we want to be remembered in the future,” Raegan says. “Sisterhood means honesty, supporting each other and sticking together when times are tough. To represent this, a painting will hang outside The Bow as a reminder to ourselves, and to you, to do your part in cultivating the theme. Here’s to the girls!”

The annual theme, expressed by the black and gold colors of the school ring, encompasses the entire GPS community. Jenise related the theme to carpentry, when weak floor joints are “sistered” or reinforced by two strong boards.

“That’s what the faculty and staff do here daily for students,” Jenise says. “They recognize when you are struggling, when you are going through a tough time, and they come alongside to support you. We welcome you to join in our theme of sisterhood in coming alongside and being supportive of each other, which helps with the highs and lows—a lot.”

Crossing the Lawn

To close the opening day ceremonies, students lined the Middle and Upper School hallways and main lawn as the rising freshmen class marched toward the rotunda, accompanied by their eighth grade teachers. Both heads of school reinforced that the new Upper School students will feel the same support and acceptance as they face the new challenges on the journey toward graduation.

For more photos of opening day festivities, click here, and you can watch a video of the morning here.
 
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